Protests in Zahedan: We Neither Forgive nor Forget

DOZZAAP (ZAHEDAN): Hundreds of Baloch citizens took to the streets after Friday prayers at the Makki Mosque in Zahedan, honoring the victims of Bloody Friday and chanting slogans for the release of political prisoners and accountability for the perpetrators of the massacre.

In a powerful demonstration of solidarity and remembrance, protesters marked the second anniversary of the Bloody Friday incident, during which numerous lives were lost. The demonstrators voiced their demands for justice and the release of political prisoners.

As participants gathered in the streets, they chanted slogans such as “Political prisoners must be freed,” “We neither forgive nor forget,” and “We swear by the blood of our comrades, we stand until the end.” These chants underscored the Baloch people’s ongoing struggle for accountability and justice in the wake of the tragic events of 2022.

Despite a heavy military presence and heightened security measures across the city, the demonstrators remained resolute in their demands.

According to sources, armed forces were deployed around the mosque and its vicinity, but this did not deter citizens from expressing their grievances.

Mowlana Abdul Hamid Ismaelzaei, the prominent Sunni Imam of Zahedan, addressed the gathering during his Friday sermon. He described the Bloody Friday event as a “great tragedy” and an injustice that reverberated globally.

Mowlana Abdul Hamid has been a vocal advocate for the rights of the Baloch people, urging Iranian authorities to treat all segments of society equally and to eliminate discrimination based on religion and ethnicity.

The protesters called attention to the plight of political prisoners detained during the 2022 protests, many of whom remain incarcerated under severe charges, including “moharebeh” (waging war against God) and “ifsad fil ard” (spreading corruption on earth).

As the protests unfolded, Baloch citizens demonstrated their resilience and determination to seek justice, marking this anniversary with a renewed commitment to their cause. This gathering serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by the Baloch nation in their fight for human rights and justice in Iran.

Meanwhile, the Free Balochistan Movement has announced protests in Europe to highlight Iranian state atrocities in Balochistan on the second anniversary of the Zahedan Massacre.

The FBM branches in Germany, the UK, and the Netherlands will organise protests against Iran on September 29 and 30 to bring the plight of the Baloch people under Iranian occupation to the attention of the world media.